Melting Stream Spring Saison

Once upon a time in the picturesque Front Range of Colorado, there was a brewer named Sheppy who had a passion for crafting unique and flavorful beers. As the snow began to melt and the streams swelled with the promise of spring, Sheppy was inspired to create a Saison that captured the essence of the season.

He called it the “Melting Stream Spring Saison,” a beer that was as refreshing as the cool, clear waters rushing down from the snow-capped peaks. The Saison had a light, golden hue like the morning sun reflecting off the melting snow, and a taste that was crisp and lively, with hints of citrus and spice.

Training for Triple Bypass

If you follow SheppyBrew on Facebook or Instagram, you might have seen that I signed up for the Triple Bypass in mid-July.

The Triple Bypass is a one-day ride over 3 Colorado Mountain passes.

The route is about 118 miles with 10,800 feet of elevation gain.

While I've done several Century Rides over the past couple of years, 118 miles will be my longest ride ever, and I've never come anywhere close to climbing 10,800 feet in one day.

The mileage doesn't concern me at all. All that climbing does.

So, over the next 61 days or so, I will be training to increase my climbing ability.

Saturday, I did my first "Triple Bypass Training Ride". As a bonus, I also increased my #MetricCenturyEveryMonth streak to 34 months.

 

Clan DunBroch Scottish Ale (Batch 356)

If you read Roll-a-Style 11 ... 14C. Scottish Export ... you knew that I would be brewing soon.

This past Saturday was the AHA's Big Brew Day, which if you've been following along for awhile, you know is a day that quite often my brewing friends use as an excuse to get together.

This year, we decided to meet at Du's Brewery, up in Fort Collins.

So early Saturday morning, The SheppyBrew Beer Model and I started a mash and packed up brewing equipment on my Traveling Brew Checklist to drive up to Du's.

The beer I brewed was my 14C. Scottish Export ...

Clan DunBroch Scottish Ale

Tuesday Ribs and Cheesy Rice

Historically, the cooking I do is usually over the weekends, but my wife and I have agreed that I should be in charge of dinner at least one time each work-week.

Usually Wednesday. 

Since I work at home, and most of what I make is very easy to multi-task with, there really isn't any reason I can't do long cooks during the day.

Last Tuesday, I decided to cook pork spare ribs during the day.

I didn't really do anything special with this batch of spare ribs. If you need to see my process / "recipe" ... take a look at past posts on Sheppy's Blog: Spare Ribs.

Helles in a Hand Bock-sket (Batch 356) and Chicken

It is almost May. 

Well, when I post this (and likely when you are reading), it will actually be May.

I don't know if I've mentioned it on this blog, but I'm making an effort this year to brew a Seasonal Beer for every month this year.

In SheppyBrew Seasonals, I identified 12 Seasonals.

Last year (see 2023 Seasonals), I brewed 8 out of 12 of those beers.

I missed March (McShepardSons Irish Ale) and May (Helles in a Hand Bock-sket) along with a couple of other months.

This year, I've already hit 2024 McShepardSons Irish Ale (Batch 352). Last weekend (as I type this ... by the time I post it, it will have been 2 weekends ago), I got my "May Seasonal" brewed as well:

Helles in a Hand Bock-sket

 

April #7100MilesIn2024 Progress

I'm probably the only one who cares ... but I've been tracking my 2024 Strava goals every month on this blog. This year, I'm targeting 7,100 miles and 319,500 feet climbed (11 Everests).

Knowing that I'll ride more in warmer spring and summer months, I planned for less riding in the snowy winter / early spring months.

I was behind my plan at the end of January. I caught up by the end of February.

I moved ahead of my plan in March, and extended my lead quite a bit in April, logging 576 miles and 29,429 feet climbed.